ST. LOUIS -- Ike Davis is batting cleanup for the Mets again today. He hasn’t been cleaning up much this season. The first baseman is hitting .164 this season. He is 4-for-34 (.118) with runners in scoring position and is hitless in his last 17 at-bats. As a cleanup hitter he is 8-for-62 on the season.

But manager Terry Collins said he is encouraged by Davis’ recent plate appearances.

“Ike’s swinging better,” Collins said. “The hardest part is when he’s swinging better, he’s not getting any hits and that’s frustrating for him.”

The lack of results has come in crucial situations. Wednesday, Davis struck out with David Wright at second base to end the first inning. In the sixth inning, he pounced on the first pitch he saw from Randy Choate and grounded out to second base to conclude the sixth inning with Daniel Murphy at third base.

The struggles are eerily similar to last season, when the Mets decided not to send Davis to Triple A. He responded with a strong second half.

But Collins indicated the rope isn't as long this season because the team is scuffling, as opposed to last year when the Mets overachieved on David Wright's back.

"Ike was struggling, but you could live with it because other guys were hitting," Collins said. "Right now, nobody's hitting. So yeah, the results, you have to certainly hope they are better than a year ago."

Davis isn’t the only left-handed slugger struggling in the middle of the Mets order: Lucas Duda has also seen his average plummet to .205, though his on-base percentage remains a respectable .350.

“When you’re a run producer, it’s really about attacking pitches you can hit and these guys are right now,” Collins said. “They’re hitting hard, but straight at people.”

* * * *

Collins has taken blame for placing Jordany Valdespin in unfamiliar defensive positions – anywhere in the outfield. But Valdespin won’t have many opportunities to play his natural position, second base, as Daniel Murphy has heated back up this week.

So Valdespin is back in the outfield today. He will start in right field for the second time this season and leadoff against Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright.

“I said we’ve got to start this guy a game,” Collins said. “Murph, as well as he’s swinging the bat right now, I thought I might actually play him at second base. But Dan is swinging too good so we put him in right field. The other day (Valdespin) came out and did the early batting practice and spent the whole hour in right field shagging flyballs. I think he should be somewhat comfortable out there, but I want to get his bat in the lineup today.”

It is Valdespin's first start since his plunking last Saturday caused a stir.